Prior to last season, Lee head coach James Morton put in a motivational tool where words and phrases such as the “process” and the “next 200 feet” were commonly uttered by Rebel football players and coaches.

In 2013, it was a tool that helped keep Lee grounded and focused while it was winning and on the way to a district championship.

This season, the Rebels (1-5) have lost five straight games, including their District 3-6A opener a week ago against Odessa Permian. And as Lee prepares for this week’s game against Odessa High, the Rebels are relying again on trying to stay within the process and focus on only what’s ahead of them.

“It just brings you back to the present moment and you don’t worry about the other plays,” junior safety Garrett Chalker said. “It’s playing one play at a time, and you don’t dwell on those other plays because if you do the next play is probably going to be just as bad, and you are thinking negative.”

Over the first six games of the season, the Rebels have not had much good happen to them. Since a season-opening victory against Keller, the Rebels have lost by blowout (56-6 to Southlake Carroll), in double overtime (51-44 to El Paso El Dorado) and by a few points after making a come back (27-23 to Abilene Cooper).

Lee has struggled to hang onto the football, and the offense and defense have struggled to find consistency in every game.

Last week, the Rebels fell behind 14-0 to Permian and, not only were they playing catchup from the first quarter on, but they also gave up five scoring plays of 30 yards or longer.

It could’ve made for a tough Saturday morning film session or Monday workout, but Morton said the players came back looking to make improvements and move on. In short, he said they were focused on what lies ahead.

“I told them (Saturday), I’m not going to make them feel better today, but I ask for you on Monday to come in and be ready to go,” Morton said. “We start a new week with a mentality, and a 1-0 mindset. And not just for Friday night, but for whatever the next step is. Focus on our details, the process that we have and stick with that. Take it one step at a time and not try to link this thing into any bigger of a deal.”

Lee is certainly not out of the playoff race in District 3-6A, but it also knows there is a sense of urgency this week to win against the Bronchos and keep playoff hopes alive.

Morton said he’s stressed the team needs to work on the little things, and that they will add up. He wants the players to know that when they walk off the field, they have improved over the previous day.

“It’s focusing on the controllables you have, and the areas that your position has,” Morton said. “When they walk off the field, be better, and when we finish video, be better. I think you are focusing more on the process than the outcome of things.”

This week, they are hoping staying focused on what lies ahead and that continued hard work will result in an elusive victory.

“We just have to go back to believing in ourselves and working hard,” said senior defensive back Darien Wallace. “Just looking at the next 30 feet, and not looking ahead or looking in the past, only focusing on the present moment.”

Follow Len on Twitter: @Len_Hayward_MRT

THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT

Odessa High

Record: 2-4, 0-1 in District 3-6A

About the Bronchos: The Bronchos have had their share of struggles this season, mainly because of injuries. Odessa High started the season with two victories against Lubbock Monterey and Lubbock Coronado in its tour of District 2-6A. But since that come-from-behind victory against the Mustangs, they have lost four in a row, including last week’s game to Midland High. The Bronchos rely on their running game led by Sebastian Galindo and a defense that returned eight starters from 2013.

Lee coach James Morton on the Bronchos: “I think they are a really good football team. I really do. They are good up front, and their offensive and defensive lines are big. They have a lot of experience, are aggressive and very fundamentally sound. I think coach (Ron) Kings does a good job because they find ways to scheme and find ways to attack your areas. Without it being a win against Midland High, I think they still gained some confidence from that game.”

MVPs

Offense

Christian Rodriguez, Sr., WR and Ethan Spray, Jr., WR

This pair of receivers helped to show that Lee’s offense can have a potent passing game. Rodriguez caught a 36-yard touchdown in the second quarter and had two catches for 45 yards. Spray, meanwhile, had two catches for 30 yards, including a 27 yard TD from Wesley Hall.

Defense

T.J. Soto, Sr., DL

Soto had four tackles, including one tackle for loss during last week’s game against Odessa Permian.

Special Teams

Brady Roper, Sr., K-P

Roper had another solid week handling punting and kicking duties for the Rebels. He averaged just under 37 yards a punt, and also connected on all four of his extra point attempts.

REBEL YELLS

- Lee running back Aron Dobbins has rushed for 2,292 yards during his career which moved him to fifth on the program’s all-time rushing list. He surpassed Walter Jones last week.

- Lee head coach James Morton said that Kaleb Nunez suffered a hip injury in last week’s game against Odessa Permian. He said that Nunez was better on Monday but he is still quetionable for Friday’s game against Odessa High.

Morton added that Aron Dobbins has an “upper body” injury, but said he should play on Friday.

- Morton said the Bronchos are a different team when running back Sebastian Galindo is on the field. Galindo has missed three games this season, and the Bronchos offense struggled in his absence. So far this season, Galindo has rushed for 781 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“He’s got really good speed, and he makes them a lot different football team,” Morton said. “You have to defense so much more of the field. Their quarterback becomes a bigger factor, and (the) passing, play-action game openes up a lot more. There are a lot more threats.”

- The Rebels’ 1-5 start this season marks the first time since 1969 Lee has started a season with only one win in its first six games. In 1969, the Rebels ended up 0-10.

Also, this year’s five-game losing streak is the first time Lee has lost five in a row since 1973. The Rebels finished 3-7 that year, which was the team’s fourth season under coach Jim Acree.

- While the Odessa Permian and Lee rivalry is one that has the most noteriety and features some of West Texas’ biggest games, the Odessa High-Lee rivalry is one of the district’s most intense and unheralded.

The two teams have played 53 times and Lee holds a 33-20 edge in the series.

For a number of years, the two teams were the first game on the district schedule and from 1990-2000, Odessa High held a 6-5 advantage, including beating Lee 27-17 in 2000, the last year of Lee’s three-year state title run.

Lee, though, has won 11 of the last 12 games with Odessa High’s only win coming in 2010. Current Odessa High coach Ron King is 1-7 against the Rebels.